Customs intercepts smuggled fuel worth N199.5m at Nigeria-Cameroon border

The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted premium motor spirit, commonly known as petrol, along the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

These interceptions were carried out following intense, intelligence-driven operations across Zone ‘D’, which includes the Adamawa/Taraba Command, under Operation Whirlwind.

During a press briefing in Yola on Thursday, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, announced this development.

He noted that just two weeks ago, they reported a total seizure of 1,716,656 liters of petroleum products for the year 2024.

“If you will be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service, with the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser, established a special operation (Whirlwind) with the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), this strategic alliance has intensified surveillance and enforcement operations across critical border corridors”.

“Our gallant officers have successfully intercepted and seized a total of 199,495 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) been diverted through various concealment methods and smuggling techniques”.

According to the CG, the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these seizures amounts to One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand Naira (N199,495,000).

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He added that four (4) Fuel Tankers carrying 97,000 litres,1,363 Jerry Cans of 25 litres each, totalling 34,075 litres and 311 Drums of 220 litres each, totalling 68,420 litres were intercepted in our operating in high-risk terrains.

“These products were intercepted through well-coordinated operations targeting sophisticated smuggling attempts, including Night-time river crossing operations at Dasin Waterways, where large-scale maritime smuggling using sophisticated boat networks was disrupted”.

These tactical interventions were executed at identified smuggling corridors including Mova, Dasin, Galamba-Song axis, Mubi-Maiha axis, and critical waterway points along our international borders with Cameroon. The CG said.

He noted that these repeated attempts by economic saboteurs to divert our strategic national assets clearly demonstrate their determination to inflict hardship on law-abiding Nigerians.

He, however, made it clear that the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute and unshakeable in its mandate to protect our national economy.

“I call on all those responsible in the distribution of these products ensures that petroleum products meant for domestic consumption reach their intended destinations, as it help in protecting government revenue, maintaining the integrity of our borders”

“We will continue to deploy additional resources and adopt even more stringent measures to ensure that these saboteurs find no safe haven within our areas of operation adopt more strategies to enhance our intelligence gathering capabilities, and strengthen our partnerships with other security agencies to combat these economic saboteurs effectively.

“there will be no safe haven for smugglers in our operational areas”.

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